{"title":"2026 Spring Tea","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"2026-tongqinghe-gushu-puerh","title":"2026 Tong Qing He Gushu Puerh","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFatBat Private Pressing Gushu Raw Puerh\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e铜箐河 国有林 古树\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eTong Qing He is likely the first name one comes across when exploring the Yao Tribal lands of Southern Yiwu – it is a swathe of primeval forest that has been prized for some of the purest, wildest Puerh. There is large variability in the quality and character of Tong Qing He material depending on the plot of trees. This carefully selected picking highlights the purity, wild character and complex richness that we feel best represents this legendary region. The weather in 2026 was near-perfect and this year’s picking is way more impressive than others we have sampled in the past few years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eExperienced Puerh drinkers frequently describe the best Yiwu teas as having a sort of “soft strength” or “quiet power”. This tea is a perfect example – elegant and stone-fruit sweet, with warm mossy overtones, but a vibrating core of persistent intensity running through it – a testament to the age of these trees and the wild environs they thrive in.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eTASTING NOTES\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThis is a substantial tea that expresses power not in bitterness\/astringency (there is none), but as a heavy pressure on the tongue, followed by a long lasting flavor activity on the palate and gullet on the swallow. A deep sensation of ripe peach sweetness and exotic ferns – the liquor is a luxurious glowing ball of radiant creaminess in the mouth and throat. It is this ambrosial textural quality that explains why this deep forest tea is so sought after. The body feel is persistent and spreads from the chest to the entire upper torso, and out to the arms and thighs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eTERROIR\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThe areas in the South of Yiwu are largely populated by the Yao minority group, with the area broadly referred to as the Yao district (\u003cspan lang=\"ZH-CN\" style=\"font-family: DengXian; mso-ascii-font-family: Aptos; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Aptos; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;\"\u003e瑶区\u003c\/span\u003e Yao Qu). The lands here are predominantly covered in primeval rainforest, with very little human intervention even around the villages. Tea groves grow wild far away from the human settlements, difficult to reach and impassable to cars, often requiring hours of trekking on motorcycle and foot to reach.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eTong Qing He is named after the famous river (He means river in Chinese) that runs through this region, and is often considered the gateway to the Yao Tribal lands of Southern Yiwu. Despite the village being fairly close to the main Yiwu township, the tea groves sit much deeper within the jungle and typically require a long motorcycle trek to reach. This is wild “guoyoulin” territory in the State Reserve jungles and not managed groves -- but each household has claimed “their patch” of wild groves many years ago and now harvests it each Spring. The best material is in high demand and good relationships are needed to secure it especially during good years (2026 is one of the best weather patterns we have seen recently).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"FatBat Puerh","offers":[{"title":"Sample (20g)","offer_id":48613823676665,"sku":null,"price":41.2,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Full Cake (200g)","offer_id":48613823709433,"sku":null,"price":343.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Tong (1kg, 5 Cakes)","offer_id":48613823742201,"sku":null,"price":1459.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7311\/5897\/files\/DNK_8356_53508acd-320b-4ecb-9388-235d8dc4721c.jpg?v=1782851416"},{"product_id":"2026-man-song-imperial-tribute-puerh","title":"2026 Man Song Imperial Tribute Puerh","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFatBat Private Pressing Imperial Tribute Raw Puerh\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e曼松 王子山 贡茶\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eAmong the 4 major Imperial Tribute tea gardens of Yunnan, the groves of Man Song in Yibang mountain are undeniably considered the true Queen of Tribute teas. We have tried to produce a Man Song Tribute tea worthy of its lofty reputation for the past 3 years, but ultra-low yields (from the few select groves we prefer) and inclement weather has not yielded the perfect material. This year (2026), near-perfect weather prevailed and we were able to work with Brother Li of household #17 in Wang Zi Shan (Prince’s Hill) village to secure a magnificent picking of his trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eTrue to its nature as a Tribute tea, this Man Song is exceedingly elegant and refined, but never weak or characterless. Instead, it expresses its sophistication via a blanket of sweetness that doesn’t overwhelm, but accentuates the crystal clear orchid fragrance and tropical fruit creaminess this terroir is known for.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eWith this Man Song, our Imperial Tribute Garden series is finally complete – and we can offer an opportunity to do a vertical tasting pack of all 4 Imperial Tribute teas – available as an option in the size menu above.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTASTING NOTES\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003ePiercing aroma of ripe mango on the gaiwan lid. Crystal clear sweetness of lychees, powerful and lasting. An orchid fragrance is discernable – one of such purity and single-mindedness that it stands above the many other regions which claim this note as a characteristic. Despite its elegance, this isn’t a mild tea. There is substance here that is apparent in the long finish on the palate and an active sweet sensation that circulates in the back of the throat. A truly noble tea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTERROIR\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eMan Song is a small area on Yibang mountain (one of the 6 Ancient Tea Mountains, west of Yiwu) and is known as one of the 4 major Imperial Tribute Tea Gardens. While all the Imperial Tribute Gardens boast tea that is very elegant, delicate and complex, Man Song is perhaps the most refined of them all, but due to a small growing area and very low yields, securing a good picking of this tea is challenging.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eTwo villages manage the groves of Man Song: Wang Zi Shan (meaning “Prince’s Hill”) to the northwest and Bei Yin Shan (roughly meaning “Rear Shaded Hill”) to the southeast. While both villages are considered Man Song, the slopes of Prince’s Hill are widely considered to produce the best “true” Imperial Tribute tea that is exceedingly sweet and elegant, which is attributed to the quality of the red-clay soil and the extremely steep, quickly draining slopes of these gardens. This has led Prince’s Hill to widely become considered the benchmark of all Imperial Tribute Teas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eLike most of the other Yibang growing areas (such as Da Hei Shu Lin, Ma Li Shu etc.), the tea trees of Prince’s Hill are small and medium leaf varietals. They share some similar characteristics such as a high level of sweetness, powerful orchid aroma and a vanishingly low astringency. It is the micro-terroir differences which give the teas from each of these gardens different taste profiles – it is interesting to taste them side-by-side to see what characteristics were selected for the ancient imperial tributes.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"FatBat Puerh","offers":[{"title":"Sample (20g)","offer_id":48613841502457,"sku":null,"price":49.97,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Full Cake (200g)","offer_id":48613841535225,"sku":null,"price":416.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7311\/5897\/files\/DNK_8347_1.jpg?v=1782851983"},{"product_id":"2026-bulls-head-ridge-gushu-puerh","title":"2026 Bull's Head Ridge Gushu Puerh","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFatBat Private Pressing Gushu Raw Puerh\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e牛头山 (布朗) 古树\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eA fascinating, unique example of a Menghai tea that is from deep jungles. This material from the mountains in the vicinity of Hekai and Bulang has the wild profile of deep forest trees which is uncommon in this region, where most teas are from closely managed gardens growing just outside the famous villages. Minerally sweet, with a fleeting hint of bitter, pink peppercorn and Bulang tang that barely obscures a delightful floral nature. The Bulang bite is present, but overlaid with an elegance rarely seen in this region. A tea for the long haul, which will mature wonderfully and develop further complexity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTASTING NOTES\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eStrong minerality in the throat and upper palate, giving a powerful salivation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThe bitterness is gossamer light, floating above the tongue, fleeting, unlike the heavier, thicker bitterness of garden-type Bulang teas. The clarity is also is also remarkable for this region, likely due to the undisturbed ecology of these jungle-type groves. The classic Bulang meaty\/mushroomy umami gets ever more present as we move through the session, chewy and savory. Mid session, a strong sensation of sticky candied sweetness occurs after each swallow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThis is a tea for the long haul -- we will enjoy watching how this tea matures in the longer term – it brings all the complexity of Bulang with an elegance rarely found in this region.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTERROIR\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eBull’s Head Ridge is a section of completely wild forest sitting at the boundaries of Hekai and the outer limits of the Ban Pen village gardens. With the large production capacity of the famous Bulang villages, this wild area has been largely overlooked by producers even up till now, as they are far more difficult to access and have a lower yield than the typical Bulang\/Hekai managed gardens close to the villages.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThese groves are fascinating as a rare example of deep forest-type trees (\u003cspan lang=\"ZH-CN\" style=\"font-family: DengXian; mso-ascii-font-family: Aptos; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Aptos; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;\"\u003e森林系\u003c\/span\u003e), growing in an area (Hekai\/Bulang) which is overwhelmingly known instead for its managed, garden-type (\u003cspan lang=\"ZH-CN\" style=\"font-family: DengXian; mso-ascii-font-family: Aptos; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Aptos; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;\"\u003e茶园系\u003c\/span\u003e) trees. The unique micro-terroir makes this material worth tasting to see how this region benefits from the purity of wilder-growing groves. These are old trees, true gushu, which have benefited greatly from growing amongst wild vegetation in a remote ecology – the result is a complex, textured and extremely pure tea.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"FatBat Puerh","offers":[{"title":"Sample (20g)","offer_id":48650288136441,"sku":null,"price":18.71,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Full Cake (200g)","offer_id":48650288169209,"sku":null,"price":156.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Tong (1kg - 5 cakes)","offer_id":48653416825081,"sku":null,"price":663.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7311\/5897\/files\/DNK_8301.jpg?v=1783564653"},{"product_id":"2026-rhino-pond-king-tree-grove-puerh","title":"2026 Rhino Pond - King Tree Grove Puerh","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFatBat Private Pressing Imperial Tribute Raw Puerh\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e犀牛塘 茶王地 古树\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eFor our Rhino Pond (Xi Niu Tang) production this year, we decided to go big and arrange a pure gushu (ancient tree) picking from the innermost core of the Xi Niu Tang gardens – an area called the King Tree Grove, or plot (\u003cspan lang=\"ZH-CN\" style=\"font-family: DengXian; mso-ascii-font-family: Aptos; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Aptos; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;\"\u003e茶王地\u003c\/span\u003e Cha Wang Di). This small area of land is where the King Tea Tree is located, along with 7-8 other very old “named” trees (these are typically picked as single tree pickings). The groves here are the oldest in Pasha Middle Village, and the soil\/terroir in this area is considered to be some of the best in the entire Pasha region. More moderate prices this year enabled us secure top tier material for an acceptable cost.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eCharacteristic of this area, this tea has the sought-after Menghai \/ Pasha robustness and rich tannin in the body, but with an unexpected silky smoothness that makes it a wonderfully balanced and nourishing session. Some of the nicest Rhino Pond tea we've had for a while, from some of the oldest trees. A tea to treasure and age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTERROIR\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eXi Niu Tang (meaning Rhino Pond) refers to the core groves of Pasha Middle Village, widely considered some of the best gushu tea gardens in the surrounding area. Pasha sits centrally in the greater Menghai region alongside its neighbors Bulang to the west, Nannuo Shan (east) and Meng Song (north). Tea from here is often said to exhibit some of the best characteristics of the surrounding areas, but combining them in its own unique style.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003ePasha's links to Lao Banzhang are widely recognized. Lao Banzhang is said to have been cultivated by early settlers who originally moved from Pasha and seeded new tea gardens from the original Pasha cultivars. The tea produced in these two regions is similar, boasting \"big\" profiles with a rich tannin which gives way quickly to lasting huigan. Bitterness may be hinted at but must not be excessive in high quality productions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eWhile the quality of Pasha area tea has long been recognized, the specific groves of Rhino Pond have been particularly sought after in the past 4-5 years, as producers began isolating material from these trees (instead of combining them into big “Pasha” batches) and hence discovering that this tea was significantly more refined and complex than in other gardens. In particular, the innermost core area (King Tree Grove) had growing conditions and old trees that brought out the best characteristics of the terroir.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"FatBat Puerh","offers":[{"title":"Sample (20g)","offer_id":48650289414393,"sku":null,"price":25.14,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Full Cake (200g)","offer_id":48650289447161,"sku":null,"price":209.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Tong (1kg - 5 cakes)","offer_id":48653436846329,"sku":null,"price":890.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7311\/5897\/files\/DNK_8303.jpg?v=1783565020"},{"product_id":"2026-cats-ear-yiwu-guoyoulin-puerh","title":"2026 Cat's Ear - Yiwu Guoyoulin Puerh","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFatBat Private Pressing Raw Puerh\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e猫耳朵 蛮砖 国有林\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eA true selected-trees Cat’s Ear varietal picking from deep in the Guoyoulin (Protected State Reserve) jungles of the 6 Ancient Mountains. A scarce, difficult custom picking done for us by Brother Sha and his team of pickers and processed to the highest standard in his Menghai processing house. A beautifully bud-heavy cake.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eAmong fans of teas from Yiwu and the neighboring 6 Ancient Tea Mountains, the term Cat’s Ear (\u003cspan lang=\"ZH-CN\" style=\"font-family: DengXian; mso-ascii-font-family: Aptos; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Aptos; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;\"\u003e猫耳朵\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"ZH-CN\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eMao Er Duo\u003c\/i\u003e) holds special excitement. As the name suggests, this is used to describe a certain varietal of tree that produces leaves that are small and oval in shape (not elongated like most regular tea leaves), which closely resemble the ears of a kitten. These varietals are not cultivated, they are only found naturally occurring as a small % of each grove, making it highly rare and difficult to produce in quantity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eCat’s Ear leaf is often considered to be the ultimate expression of the 6 Ancient Mountains character – the delicate florals, juicy fruit and crystal-clear sweetness of “regular” small-leaf teas from this area are magnified even further in the Cat’s Ear variety.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThis material is tricky to process well – due to the small and delicate nature of the leaf, it is often fired for a very short time (too short) in the wok by farmers who are afraid of burning the leaf, resulting in a light tea lacking body -- not desireable. This production however, which has been supervised by Brother Sha, has been thoroughly fired with closely managed wok temps to yield a deeper, richer liquor and a depth that is remarkable for such a delicate material, without burning any of the leaf. A masterpiece of processing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTASTING NOTES\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eCrystal clear, pale white-yellow liquor, with a silken texture and tongue-coating herbal sweetness. Aromas of lemons preserved in icing sugar and warmed lime-zest. The sip brings a hint of tropical fruit (papaya? jackfruit?) and a distinct note of candy-coated almonds, piercingly brittle-sweet. Mid-session, a fuller body of fresh Rainier cherries comes to the fore along with an increasingly strong floral character that builds and builds relentlessly. The aromas remain fascinating throughout – citrus pulp, zest, powerful green florals and the barest hint of ripe stonefruit – from the warmed leaf, then carrying through in the back of the throat past the final swallow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTERROIR\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThis picking was made in the deep jungles near the border of Mang Zhi and YouLe mountains, far from any of the major villages. We heard about the discovery of this grove earlier this year by some local farmers, and arranged for Brother Sha to organize a picking team to secure a batch this Spring. Mostly, Cat Ear varietals will grow alongside other \"regular\" small and medium-leafed cultivars – this grove had a surprising proportion of Cat Ear varietals, which made the picking very fruitful. Although Cat Ear varietals grow throughout the 6 Ancient Mountains, many of the “known” groves are in the Yibang region (and a few in Man Zhuan), far fewer in this Mang Zhi – YouLe area. Which makes this newly discovered grove very interesting to sample to experience the unique terroir here.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"FatBat Puerh","offers":[{"title":"Sample (20g)","offer_id":48650414522617,"sku":null,"price":34.93,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Full Cake (200g)","offer_id":48650414555385,"sku":null,"price":291.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Tong (1kg - 5 cakes)","offer_id":48653447463161,"sku":null,"price":1309.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7311\/5897\/files\/DNK_8296_73c5c563-a024-477f-8af1-4bde16d562ed.jpg?v=1783797633"},{"product_id":"2026-old-dragons-grove-gushu-puerh","title":"2026 Old Dragon's Grove Gushu Puerh","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFatBat Private Pressing Imperial Tribute Raw Puerh\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e老龙箐 迷地 古树\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eWhen we visited Farmer Dong of the MiDi Imperial Gardens this Spring, we were not expecting to discover a completely new grove in this vicinity. We’d heard of Lao Long Qing (Old Dragon’s Grove) before around tea-table chats, but always with zero hint of its location or how to source it. We were delighted when Farmer Dong mentioned that he had arranged to make several pickings this year from this area and we could visit the groves themselves – an opportunity we could not miss.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eOld Dragon’s Grove is a rare oddity in these parts. The MiDi region of Mojiang is more famous for its characteristic small-leaved varietals growing in managed gardens (such as the Imperial Tribute gardens). Old Dragon's Grove however, is one of the only known groves in this area to have mainly large-leaved cultivars growing wild in great density, in the middle of primeval rainforest (i.e. a true jungle-type tea). As such, this is a valuable chance to taste the perfumey floral\/aromatic character of MiDi area terroir, but with the unique power and robustness of body from the large-leaf varietal trees growing wild. As far as we know, this is the only grove with such a profile in this area, with this combination of characteristics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eBecause of its small volume, this material has previously mostly been sold direct to buyers in Guangzhou. This year, we were fortunate to be able to visit these groves and secure a small picking to offer here. This tea is certain to mature beautifully over the ages and is a high recommendation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTASTING PROFILE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eRich, powerful oaky tannins that never become astringent, but instead coat the tongue endlessly and promise a long and brilliant maturation journey. Early tastings reveal a character of walnuts, barley and concentrated oils of Italian blood orange, accompanied by the virile pungency of wildflowers post-bloom. Mouthfeel is like fine suede, smooth yet textured, with a moderately heavy oakiness on the palate, a substantial tea. Despite the robust flavors, the qi is deceptively sneaky in approach; it is only until mid-session that one realizes the irresistible expanding force in the chest and the swirling of thoughts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTERROIR\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eOld Dragon’s Grove is not far from the carefully managed MiDi Imperial Tribute Gardens – it is in fact visible in the distance as a thickly forested slope on a neighboring mountainside. However, it sits in an area of primeval forest that hasn’t ever been developed, so takes about 45 minutes on motorbike over rough trails to reach. Riding into this area, the air changes perceptibly from hot and reddish-dusty to cool, dark and fragrantly green, as the trees press in on you. These glades have laid completely wild for countless years – the MiDi villagers tell us that very early ancestors in these parts once may have lived in these jungles and planted these tea trees – occasionally one notices small piles of rock which hint at long-abandoned settlements. In contrast to the many garden-type groves in MiDi with small-leaf varietals growing in direct sun on the slopes, the large-leaf varietal tea trees in Old Dragon’s Grove grow partially shaded, interspersed amidst towering trees of great variety, with a multitude of wild flora underfoot. This gives the tea a highly interesting wild character and powerful complexity that is highly prized by those who taste it.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"FatBat Puerh","offers":[{"title":"Sample (20g)","offer_id":48650437067001,"sku":null,"price":38.62,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Full Cake (200g)","offer_id":48650437099769,"sku":null,"price":322.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Tong (1kg - 5 cakes)","offer_id":48653331792121,"sku":null,"price":1368.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7311\/5897\/files\/DNK_8367.jpg?v=1783566392"},{"product_id":"2026-wilderness-manzhuan-puerh","title":"2026 Wilderness - ManZhuan Puerh","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFatBat Private Pressing Wild Raw Puerh\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e蛮砖 曼林 荒野\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThis is a tea that we have never produced before, from a remote slope on Man Zhuan mountain, far away from the gushu groves of Man Lin village (where we pressed our 2023 Man Zhuan Man Lin tea). This “new-to-us”8 wild grove was introduced to us by Brother Zhang, who explained that the trees here were cultivated a long time ago by the Man Lin villagers, but for the past 10-20 years, have not been regularly picked due to the remoteness of the grove. Hence the name we chose -- \"Wilderness\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eHaving been left to grow wild in the deep jungle, these trees have grown impressively tall for their age (such groves are described as \u003cspan lang=\"ZH-CN\" style=\"font-family: DengXian; mso-ascii-font-family: Aptos; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family: Aptos; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;\"\u003e放高\u003c\/span\u003e, or “left to grow tall” in Chinese). The lack of human traffic has endowed this material with a superb purity. The uniqueness of the terroir here is also fascinating – while the core Man Zhuan character of honeyed fruit is still present, it is a much brighter, zestier expression. Excellent value and a wonderful way to indulge in the wild character of this Greater Yiwu \/ 6 Mountains terroir.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eTASTING NOTES\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eFirst brews yield a glowing light-gold soup. Dried pineapple, cherry tomato puree and the woody sweetness of the first bite of a sugarcane. Intense aroma of tropical fruit in the back of the nasal passages. The bottom of the cup presents a surprisingly rich spiced caramel fragrance, at odds with the lightness of the tea itself. Lighter bodied, but a ginger-flower tang and a pleasant trail of light tannin activity continues to play on the tongue long after the swallow. Energizing qi localizing in the chest and upper throat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eTERROIR\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eMan Lin village sits on Man Zhuan mountain (one of the 6 ancient tea mountains) – you may have heard of other neighboring villages on the same mountain like Wa Long and Peach Village. This particular grove, however, grows completely wild and untended a good distance away from Man Lin village, outside the borders of the ancient gardens that are typically picked for Man Lin productions. The tree varietals here appear to be a different mix as well, with what seems to be proportionally more medium and larger-leaved cultivars. This makes for a very interesting opportunity to sample a unique expression of the Man Zhuan terroir, that is not often offered for tasting.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"FatBat Puerh","offers":[{"title":"Sample (20g)","offer_id":48650438770937,"sku":null,"price":10.77,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Full Cake (200g)","offer_id":48650438803705,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Tong (1kg - 5 cakes)","offer_id":48653454442745,"sku":null,"price":381.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7311\/5897\/files\/DNK_8310.jpg?v=1783566646"},{"product_id":"2026-goddess-of-mercy-peak-puerh","title":"2026 Goddess of Mercy Peak Puerh","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFatBat Private Pressing Gushu Raw Puerh\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e观音山 倚邦 古树\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eA deeply obscure grove at the edge of Yibang, just bordering Man Zhuan. The Goddess of Mercy Peak (Guan Yin Shan) was only uncovered in 2020 by several prominent Chinese collectors. Each year, this tea has been sold quickly on the private market due to minuscule quantities. This year we have secured a full mixed gushu picking from this grove, courtesy of our good friend in Man Zhuan, Farmer Zhang Lan (who also personally picks many of our other Guoyoulin state forest teas).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThe trees growing here are a combination of small and medium-leaved varietals, very representative of Yibang and eastern Man Zhuan mountains. This is a classic Guoyoulin (protected state forest) style tea from the deep jungle – a clear silken soup, delicate and high floral fragrance and a vanilla-custard nature emerging in late steeps. A noble experience, impressively sweet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTASTING NOTES\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eFirst steeps are clear and light, with a powerfully sweet aroma at the bottom of the fairness cup. High-pitched white florals with a silky character, like a cream of jasmine flower. Intense sweetness coupled with the damp greenness of jungle mosses. An entrancing deep forest tea with excellent throat texture and luxurious mouthfeel. The apparent delicacy of this tea is deceiving – a core of smooth tannin gives it a pleasurable body and the promise of developing further complexity as it matures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTERROIR\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eDespite its name, Guan Yin Shan is not exactly a mountain, but rather a grove named after the Goddess of Mercy “Guan Yin”, a beloved deity in Chinese folklore. This mountainous micro-region is rarely mentioned as it sits in a transitional area between Yibang and Man Zhuan territories. It has been long known as a harvest ground for valuable morels, and we were told that the small ancient tea tree grove here was inadvertently discovered by mushroom pickers some 5-6 years ago. The tea trees are very few in number, but the ecology is pristine and truly wild, with the trees rarely picked until recent years (and even so, only once a year). An interesting terroir which yields tea that has both the noble floral delicacy of Yibang, alongside the powerful sweetness of Man Zhuan.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"FatBat Puerh","offers":[{"title":"Sample (20g)","offer_id":48650441031929,"sku":null,"price":24.76,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Full Cake (200g)","offer_id":48650441064697,"sku":null,"price":206.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Tong (1kg - 5 cakes)","offer_id":48653462798585,"sku":null,"price":928.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7311\/5897\/files\/DNK_8350.jpg?v=1783567084"}],"url":"https:\/\/fatbatpuerh.com\/collections\/2026-spring-tea.oembed","provider":"FatBat Puerh","version":"1.0","type":"link"}